Personal Best

I ran in the Telford Town Centre 5k tonight and managed a new personal best. Two months ago I ran in the Park Hall 5k and managed 22'24, tonight I managed to knock a minute off that with 21'21. It was quite quick with a fast downhill section to begin with, this had the inverse effect of making me slow down a bit because I didn't want to run out of steam.

Still, I was pleased with the time because it shows I'm progressing and that's what matters. So lets see if I can keep that progress up.

Getting quicker

This run has become my stock run at the moment. It takes me half an hour on a slow day, so is manageable with work and family. But it also offers a nice opportunity to run by the river, and put in some quick times if I want. I'm trying to push myself on this run at least once a week - yesterday I managed 26' 08. Those 8seconds were a bit disappointing, because it would be nice to get to a 25min, but a sub 25min for 3.43miles is what I'm aiming for.

Getting back into the groove

So it's a while since the marathon now (about 6 weeks) and I'm just beginning to get back into the running groove. I've done a couple of club runs but mostly I've been jogging this 3.43 mile route.
I've felt various aches and pains but I've managed these times:

1. 29' 36
2. 30' 17
3. 30' 31

Which is OK but I need to push myself a bit more and pick the speed up. Tonight I ran in a 5k race at Park Hall, Oswestry and finished in a time of 22' 24. I'm reasonably pleased as I twice had to do up my laces and finished with plenty in the tank. Good to be back on the road

Stupid - 2 years in a row

So I've done it. I've applied for a place in the 2010 London Marathon. What an idiot.

The hardest day of my life

So yesterday I ran the London Marathon and it was hard. 10 things I learned were

1. South East trains at London Bridge were rubbish. Twice we were moved platforms and twice hundreds missed their trains. On the third attempt after a third platform change we got on a train.
2. The organisation of the marathon was phenomenal.
   
3. Getting stomach cramps and needing the toilet at 8 miles and then again at 8.2 miles slows you right up. Thank the Lord for a handily placed McDonalds to nip into.
   
4. Running in the sun is bad for me. Stag day - hot day and I get cramp. Triathlon challenge - hot day and I get cramp. Marathon - hot day and I nearly cramp and crash into the wall
5. People talk about the wall but until you hit it you have no idea. Chris Boardman sums it up well, "Towards the last three or four miles I just couldn't care less. I just wanted somebody to shoot me but since they wouldn't I had to keep going,"
6. From 21 miles I could have cried every time someone called my name, after the finish I could have sworn at every spectator getting in my way. Exhaustion does that to you.
7. I drank Lucozade at every stop, ran through every shower, took water on every other mile and still ran out of energy. Ran out of steam and ideas long before the finish.
8. 4 hours 47 was OK but I'm a bit disappointed. Cue another attempt.
9. I'll need to up my miles next time around.
10. You can't finish without saying something about the crowds. Unbelievable support every step of 26.2 miles. Just incredible, never experienced anything like it, would like to taste it again.
    

Here are the facts:

PERSON
Name	WHITTALL, PHIL R (GBR)	Club
Runner No.	12807	Age group	M18

TIMES
5 km	0:29:35	25 km	2:37:01
10 km	0:58:09	30 km	3:11:52
15 km	1:35:15	35 km	3:54:52
20 km	2:04:53	40 km	4:31:22
half	2:11:35	finish	4:47:04

TOTAL
Position (overall)	22437	Position (age group)	9504
Position (gender)	16962	Finish time	4:47:04

By own stopwatch it looked like this:

1 mile 10'10
2 miles 9'26 19 min
3 miles 9'00 28 min
4 miles 8'58 37 min
5 miles 8'56 46 min
6 miles 9'34 56min
7 miles 9'34 1 hr 05
8 miles 12'00 1 hr 17 (Toilet stop 1)
9 miles 14'24 1 hr 32 (Toilet stop 2)
10 miles 9'23 1 hr 41
11 miles 9'23 1 hr 50
12 miles 9'45 2hr 00
13 miles 9'50 2hr 10
14 miles 11'14 2hr 21
15 miles I forgot to lap this mile which is why the next number is...
16 miles 20'22 2hr 42
17 miles 11'07 2hr 53
18 miles 11'01 3hr 04
19 miles 11'57 3hr 16
20 miles 13'11 3hr 29
21 miles 16'03 3hr 45 - at this point I was walking
22 miles 12'22 3hr 57
23 miles 11'44 4hr 09
24 miles 11'30 4hr 21
25 miles 12'12 4hr 33
26.2 miles 13'50 4hr 47

So that was the story of my race. A big congrats to my friend Tony Thompson who did it in 3hr 5 min (and 69th for his age group) and Simon Pierce who finished in 3 hr 55. Well done fellas.

Last club run

So last night we had an alternative out at Ironbridge. I'd map it but I've no idea where we went. What I do know is that the steps were an absolute killer but several miles of steep hills and trail runs were a good last run before the marathon. I feel in decent shape and I'm hoping if I can be disciplined with the hydration I'm on course for a reasonable time.

Sweat, contacts and on time

Not many more training runs left now, not much more time to make any adjustments. I did this run today



9.82 miles in 1 hour 28 minutes 39 seconds which is exactly my target 9minute mile pace. I just need to keep that up for another two and a half hours!! Today is a warm day (18 degrees) and if its anything like that in London the key will be hydration. I didn't take enough with me today and so I slowed in the second half, so these ten miles weren't evenly paced which is my aim on the day. A bit disappointingly I was only 40 seconds quicker than in January, although if I count in the contact lens stop (see below) that would probably be nearer 2-3 minutes but I think if I get my hydration right and maintain a steadier pace I should be ok.

Secondly, sweat. I had one small stop as sweat ran into my eyes and dislodged a contact lens which both stung like anything, was tricky to put back in and slowed me up for at least two minutes.

The knee is OK but I felt it a bit in the last mile.